Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat)
Centre City Tower, 7 Hill Street
Birmingham
B5 4UA
Telephone
+44 1216447534
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKG31 - Birmingham
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.mytenders.co.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA24607
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Ofwat Innovation Fund delivery partner 2025-30
Reference number
PROC.0024
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 65000000 - Public utilities
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
We are looking to appoint delivery partners to support Ofwat in delivering the Ofwat Innovation Fund and aspects of the Water Efficiency Fund in AMP 8 (the asset management planning period which runs from April 2025-March 2030). This is a continuation of the existing Innovation Fund which was established in 2020 and the introduction of a new Water Efficiency Fund (WEF) of which this Invitation to Tender is concerned with only two aspects: the Water Efficiency Lab (WEL) – an annual competition similar to the Innovation Fund but focused solely on water efficiency, and the evaluation of the Water Efficiency Campaign (WEC), which is the other part of the two components that make up the WEF.
We are looking for delivery partner support in three distinct but linked areas:
Lot 1: Core Innovation Fund and WEL delivery
Lot 2: Implementation programme
Lot 3: Evaluation
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £18,400,000
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 1: Core Innovation Fund and WEL delivery
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 65000000 - Public utilities
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG31 - Birmingham
- UKI - London
- UKI32 - Westminster
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 1: Core Innovation Fund and WEL delivery
Lot 1 is broken down into the following services (detailed descriptions follow):
1. Water Breakthrough Challenge rounds 6-7
2. Water Discovery Challenge round 2
3. Water Efficiency Lab rounds 1-2
4. Collaborative Challenge programme
5. Monitoring of live projects and project closedown
6. Programme governance
7. Marketing and communications
8. Data collection to inform AMP 8 evaluation
The overall budget range for the initial two-year contract for Lot 1: Core Innovation Fund and WEL delivery is 4,400,000-5,800,000
The overall budget for 3-5 of the period will be determined towards the end of year 2 is 6,500,000-8,700,000
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 2: Implementation programme
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 65000000 - Public utilities
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKI32 - Westminster
- UKG31 - Birmingham
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Innovation Fund aims to support the adoption and roll-out of innovative products, services and concepts. We expect most water companies will see the benefits of adopting successful innovations with no further support from Ofwat. However, throughout our engagement with companies in 2023/24 we have understood that it can take many years for companies to adopt an innovation and there have been suggestions that part of the fund should be targeted to help speed up implementation of new products, services and concepts.
The Supplier and Ofwat will work closely together with the sector to determine what an effective implementation programme could look like. The programme will focus on accelerating the adoption and scaling of innovations awarded funding through the Ofwat Innovation Fund but also to support innovation implementation more generally across the sector.
Co-design and delivery of new programme to support the acceleration of adoption and scaling of innovations across sector. Timetable to be agreed with the Supplier in line with the capacity of the sector to engage in design of the programme, but work expected to start in 2025.
The overall budget range for the initial two-year contract for Lot 2: Implementation programme is 500,000-800,000
The possible budget in years 3-5 of extension period for Lot 2: Implementation programme is 800,000-1,100,000
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 3: Evaluation
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 65000000 - Public utilities
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG31 - Birmingham
- UKI32 - Westminster
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 3 is broken down into the following services
1. AMP 7 Evaluation: Delivery of an impact and Value for Money (VfM) evaluation programme before the end of 2027
2. Delivery and coordination of AMP 8 evaluation activity.
The overall budget range for the initial two-year contract for Lot 3: Evaluation is 600,000-900,000
The overall value in years 3-5 of the period will be determined towards the end of year 2 and could be in the range of 800,000-1,100,000
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2024/S 000-030529
Section five. Award of contract
Lot No
1
Title
Lot 1: Core Innovation Fund and WEL delivery
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
31 March 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 7
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 3
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 7
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 7
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Nesta
58 Victoria Embankment
London
EC4Y0DS
Telephone
+44 7445088652
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £14,500,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £14,500,000
Section five. Award of contract
Lot No
2
Title
Lot 2: Implementation programme
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
31 March 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 7
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 3
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 7
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 7
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Isle
One Eleven, Edmund Street
Birmingham
B3 2HJ
Telephone
+44 7742096537
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £1,900,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,900,000
Section five. Award of contract
Lot No
3
Title
Lot 3: Evaluation
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
31 March 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 14
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 8
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 14
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 14
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
ICF Consulting Services Ltd
62 Threadneedle Street
London
EC2R 8HP
Telephone
+44 2030964800
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £2,000,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £2,000,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
(MT Ref:234342)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Public Procurement Review Service
Cabinet Office
London
publicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 3450103503
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit